POLITICO Tech Trump’s quiet cuts at a key cybersecurity agency
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Feb 10, 2025 Maggie Miller, a cybersecurity reporter for Politico, dives into the repercussions of recent budget cuts at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). She highlights how personnel changes—many from election security roles—are impacting efforts against election disinformation. Miller discusses the agency's shift in focus under the new Homeland Security leadership and raises alarms about escalating cybersecurity threats, particularly from foreign adversaries, as CISA navigates its uncertain future.
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CISA Staff Put on Leave
- Approximately six CISA employees working on election security and disinformation were put on administrative leave.
- This action follows Republican criticism of CISA's role in countering election disinformation, particularly during the 2020 election.
CISA and Disinformation
- CISA's efforts to counter election disinformation, including the "Rumor Control" website, drew criticism from Republicans.
- This criticism led to CISA scaling back its disinformation work, even though it represented a small percentage of its overall efforts.
CISA's Uncertain Future
- CISA was recently added to the list of agencies receiving buyout offers, indicating potential further downsizing.
- Trump's past displeasure with CISA, including firing director Chris Krebs, adds to the uncertainty surrounding the agency's future.